PARLIAMENT

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LIQUOR REFORM

"FIRST STEPS TAKEN. v

•.COMMITTEE SET UP,

♦(Special to. "Northern Advocate.")

WELLINGTON, This Day".

. The' first' step towards liquoi 1 reform taken last night by Mr •who moved for the appointment of a Committee to advise the Government of amendments of the exist•liquor legislation which they considered necessary in the public interest, such commit tee to comprise Messrs J. Bitchener (Waitaki), W. S. Glenn (Rangitikci), A. Harris (Waitemata), J\ P.'Hockly '' (Botorua), J. Horn ((Wakatipu), W. D. LSynar (Gisborne), ,'Sir J. P. Liike ' (Wellington North), M. J. Savage (Auckland West), L. M. Isifct (ChrisitcKurch Noith), and the mover. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. The Cabinet again spent many hours yesterday discussing the , report* of Advisory Boards and the recommendation of the Department of Lands retig soldier settlement. The matter' lias aroused considerable interest in lobbies; in fact, no other topic has | 'been, so much discussed since the , •.State 4 . Advances Bill was disposed of. i

It is understood that the Government will circulate a report among members and give them an opportunity of absorbing its contents. If the discussion in Parliament takes proportionately a3 lloiig to come to a head, then soldiers and their affairs • will be the subject of a protracted debate. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The House spent last night discussing the Noxious Weeds Bill. Whenever such a new law is introduced Parliamentarians always recall th<s occasion when a private Bill dealing with noxious weeds was introduced by the .late Mr Roderick. Mclvenzie, member for Motueka. The first member who spoke said that he •would support the Bill if the mover would leave out his electorate. By the. time the Bill "passed its second reading the only district left in the schedule attached to it was Motueka.

SCHOOL BOOKS. Seizing an opportunity afforded him by two questions on the subject, the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) cleared up a misapprehension growing in the minds of people Shrit'

new school books would be required -this year arid that the co?t would be excessive. This was a pure fabrication, said Mr Parr. No new books

will he brought into use until next year. ' The Government had. already standardised secondary . school • books —- 'ifchore were no fewer than 80 in use

for Latin alone —and was now grappling with the problem for prim iry schools. , INSURANCE RELJEF.

A small measure intended to give -relief to insurance companies passed 'its second reading.

Under the existing law, said the Hon* W. Downic Stewart, statutory deposits up. to £50,000, which were lodged as trading security, were put in the Public Trust common fund find the in,fcerest was subject to income tax. The Minister agreed with companies that '-.this was somewhat unfair,- as they had bo means of controlling income from deposits. The measure, which affords the relief desired, passed its second reading without debate. ANZAC DAY WAGES. Anzac Day is the subject of a question by an Auckland Labour member, -who urges that it be commemorated "•on the nearest Sunday.

A recent judgment of the Arbitration Court lays down, he says, that the •effect of the present law is that workers paid by the hour or day lose their ■wages for Anzac.Day, except where lh'o "Tactories Act or an award of the •Court requires them to be paid in full, while worker.* paid- by th? week will ■not lose their wages. The difference causes Anzac Day to be a bone of eo. i"••teation among Avorkers. INFLUENZA TOLL. Influenza is exacting its toll - f •members. Two Ministers and several .members arc suffering, and the Cham"bcr resounds with frequent coughing.